---
title: "Ecological Succession Definition and Overview"
description: "Ecological succession is the sequence of changes in an ecosystem's species composition over time, crucial for understanding community dynamics in ecology."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/ecological-succession"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Ecological succession is the orderly, progressive sequence of changes in species composition and community structure of an ecosystem over time until a stable climax community is reached.
- What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?
- Who proposed the monoclimax theory of succession?
- What are sere, hydrosere, and xerosere?
- How do productivity and diversity change during succession?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

Ecological succession is the orderly, progressive sequence of changes in species composition and community structure of an ecosystem over time until a stable climax community is reached.

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After Iceland's Surtsey volcanic island emerged in 1963, scientists documented textbook primary succession as lichens, mosses, and vascular plants progressively colonised the bare lava over the following decades.

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